ign hang. I requested a room; the boots measured me with a look,
and conducted me into the garret. I caused fresh water to be brought,
and made him exactly describe to me where I should find Mr. Thomas
John. He replied to my inquiry--"Before the north gate; the first
country-house on the right hand; a large new house of red and white
marble, with many columns."

"Good!" It was still early in the day. I opened at once my bundle;
took thence my new black cloth coat; clad myself cleanly in my best
apparel; put my letter of introduction into my pocket, and
immediately set out on the way to the man who was to promote my modest
expectations.

When I had ascended the long North Street, and reached the gate, I
soon saw the pillars glimmer through the foliage. "Here it is, then,"
thought I. I wiped the dust from my shoes with my pocket-handkerchief,
put my neckcloth in order, and in God's name rung the bell. The door
flew open. In the hall I had an examination to undergo; the porter,
however, permitted me to be announced, and I had the honor to be
called into the park, where Mr. John was walking with a select
party. I recognized the man at once by the lustre of his corpulent
self-complacency. He received me very well--as a rich man receives a
poor devil--even turned toward me, without turning from the rest of
the company, and took the offered letter from my hand. "So, so, from
my brother! I have heard nothing from him for a long time. But he is
well? There," continued he, addressing the company, without waiting
for an answer, and pointing with the letter to a hill, "there I am
going to erect the new building." He broke the seal without breaking
off the conversation, which turned upon riches.

"He that is not master of a million, at least," he observed,
"is--pardon me the word--a wretch!"

"O! how true!" I exclaimed with a rush of overflowing feeling.

That pleased him. He smiled at me, and said--"Stay here, my good
friend; in a while I shall perhaps have time to tell you what I think
about this." He pointed to the letter, which he then thrust into his
pocket, and turned again to the company. He offered his arm to a young
lady; the other gentlemen addressed themselves to other fair
ones; each found what suited him; and all proceeded toward the
rose-blossomed mound.

I slid into the rear, without troubling any one, for no one troubled
himself any further about me. The company was excessively lively;
there were dalliance an